Nation building activities of the Pakistani Army

[Xeric]

i m opening this thread to discuss about the stuff that the Army has done as regards to Nation Building.

Here's the first episode.

Infrastructure Development

National Logistic Cell

Established in 1977 and mainly officered by serving Army officers, it employs over 6500 civilians / ex servicemen. With a transport fleet comprising 2000 heavy duty vehicles it is capable of combating logistics crises especially handling / transportation of dry and liquid cargo in the country. Besides it has shown visible progress on some of the very important national projects to include port handling, construction works and special projects.

Frontier Works Organization

It undertakes large projects of road communication, bridges dams, canals and earthworks. In past thirty years it has constructed 3797 kilometers of roads including Kora Krum Highway, Gilgit-Skardu Link, besides preparing 8 completely new and up-gradating 11 airfields. Further it has undertaken extensive works on irrigation structures to include Khairpur Dam, Sadiqa Feeder and Abbasia Feeder. Some of the other projects are Left Bank outfall Drain, Khanpur Dam, Islam Head Works, SCARP VI Drains and structures and Quresh Ditch. Shile in Power and Energy Sector, construction of Jam Shoro Thermal Power Station, Muzaffargarh Thermal Power Station and Mangla Hydel Power Unit 9 and 10.

Fauji Foundation

This organization has contributed significantly to the national cause in the fields of industry, social development, employment opportunities and enhancing the national exchequer by paying considerable taxes. Rs. 6886.92 millions have been paid by Fauji Foundation / sponsored Pub Ltd Coys in the last ten years. Presently 15 factories, 12 hospitals, 24-Day Health Centres, 46 Mobile and 21 static dispensaries are functioning under this organization. In the education sector, it has 2 colleges, 64 Model Schools, 2 Computer Institutes, 66 Vocational Training Centres and 9 Technical Training Centres.

Army Welfare Trust

As a financial and industrial group it seeks to provide stability and progress to the armed forces and the nation. At present there are 5 factories / mills, while in the Banking and Services Sector there are 4 companies functioning under Army Welfare Trust. It has also undertaken joint venture in the field of Lubricant Blending with Mobil Corporation USA at Hub. In 1996 Army Welfare Trust paid Rs. 2.24 Billion to the government as duties and taxes.

Special Communication Organization

Established in 1976 it provides communication facilities to entire Northern Areas and Azad Kashmir. Since its inception, this organization has played a vital role in development of telephone and telegraph facilities in the inaccessible areas.


Defence Production

In this sector, significant contributions are being made by Pakistan Ordnance Factory and Heavy Industry Texila, which are producing a wide range of items for use within the country and abroad.


Services in Azad Kashmir / Northern Areas

Similarly, without any financial assistance from the Government, Pakistan Army and Frontier Work Organization have jointly constructed, and are maintaining critical communication networks to include roads and tracks in Azad Kashmir and Northern Areas, like Laswa and Kiran Bypass, besides other difficult forward roads. The roads have since not been taken over either by Northern Area Power and Water Development, or Azad Kashmir Power and Water Development. Entire civil population in the area is dependent on these roads for their daily supplies. Along vulnerable sectors of the roads in Kel Sector, necessary protective walls and gabians have also been constructed to protect civilian and military traffic from hostile fire. Further in entire Azad Kashmir and Northern Areas, Army is providing tremendous medical services to the civilians, through schools run by the Army.


Land Reclamation

Significant contributions have so far been made by the Army in the shape of SCARP Projects, besides 12 miles long drain from Tando Muhammad Khan to the Arabian sea, to help reclaim water logged areas in the vicinity of the Barrage.


Water Supply Schemes

Construction of Wali Tangi Dam, Islam Kach and Levy Post dams in Balochistan and water supply schemes in Thar Desert are a few examples, which have made positive impact on the environment and the local population. Additionally the Army has reactivated a number of abandoned tube wells in Cholistan desert.


Federal Area Tribal Area Development Works

Army having opened the erstwhile inaccessible/ No Go Areas of Federal Administrative Tribal Area, has undertaken and is cont with multifaceted dev works in Federal Area Tribal Area. Details of the dev works undertaken by the army in Federal Area Tribal Area are as under:-

Comm Infrastructure

Army Engineers have construct over 728 kilometers of 24 ft wide trs, which will be converted into black top roods.
Health

27 x perm medical camps exist since last two years, which have treated 235,324 patients. Besides 8 x free eye camps functional in the area have treated 825 ops of eye surgery and have provided treatment to 11,484 patients.


Water Supply Scheme

As a financial and industrial group it seeks to provide stability and progress to the armed forces and the nation. At present there are 5 factories / mills, while in the Banking and Services Sector there are 4 companies functioning under Army Welfare Trust. It has also undertaken joint venture in the field of Lubricant Blending with Mobil Corporation USA at Hub. In 1996 Army Welfare Trust paid Rs. 2.24 Billion to the government as duties and taxes.
Alternative Source of Energy


Micro Hydro Power Stas

4 x Micro Hydro Power Stations have been instl in Khyber Agency along Bara River to provide elec to the locals.


Wind Mills

2 x windmills one each at Shagai Fort (Khyber Agency) and village Anargai (Mohmand Agency) have been instl on trial basis to provide elec to small villages. More will be instl if the experiment is successful.

 

[ajpirzada]

well it appears our army has also got an economy of its own...
i would say its a great move, given our defence budget is very less when to compared to india. this not only contributes towards nation building but also gives them a light cover against ups and downs in economic climate

 

[Xeric]

well it appears our army has also got an economy of its own...

Ya it does, but that shouldn't be bothering a gentleman like you as it bother many other thick headed. Army have many projects but the beauty is that the money dont go in any of the pockets but instead it is either spent over the troops' welfare or the Nation.

So it has a thumbs up from my side.

i would give you the details if you want.

i would say its a great move, given our defence budget is very less when to compared to india. this not only contributes towards nation building but also gives them a light cover against ups and downs in economic climate

And it doesn't have to do with the defence budget.

These things only contribute towards the welfare stuff, Army don't buy munitions out of what it earns

And moreover, most of the projects mentioned in the projects are run from the Army budget, if you were thinking that Army did them from its own pocket.

The budget that the Army gets is re-directed towards these projects, thereby sometimes even making it difficult for the Army to coup up its legit requirements.

i hope you understand.

 

[ajpirzada]

Ya it does, but that shouldn't be bothering a gentleman like you as it bother many other thick headed. Army have many projects but the beauty is that the money dont go in any of the pockets but instead it is either spent over the troops' welfare or the Nation.

So it has a thumbs up from my side.

i would give you the details if you want.


And it doesn't have to do with the defence budget.

These things only contribute towards the welfare stuff, Army don't buy munitions out of what it earns

And moreover, most of the projects mentioned in the projects are run from the Army budget, if you were thinking that Army did them from its own pocket.

The budget that the Army gets is re-directed towards these projects, thereby sometimes even making it difficult for the Army to coup up its legit requirements.

i hope you understand.

so in short wat u r sayin is that wat they earn from such projects is spent on the welfare programes and some part of wat they get from the gov is also spent on these project eg. acquiring new machinery for FWO.
am i rit??

 

[HAIDER]

Well Pak army built billions of pounds assets by its own effort. Successfully worked as business entity.

 

[Xeric]

so in short wat u r sayin is that wat they earn from such projects is spent on the welfare programes and some part of wat they get from the gov is also spent on these project eg. acquiring new machinery for FWO.
am i rit??

You can say so.

But like in some of the projects mentioned below the main aim was support the Army itself and in turn if the civilian population also gets the benefit, what's wrong in it.

i will go one by one on eacn:

National Logistic Cell

Established in 1977 and mainly officered by serving Army officers, it employs over 6500 civilians / ex servicemen. With a transport fleet comprising 2000 heavy duty vehicles it is capable of combating logistics crises especially handling / transportation of dry and liquid cargo in the country. Besides it has shown visible progress on some of the very important national projects to include port handling, construction works and special projects.

The main reason was to provide logistics to the Army, but it is utilized by the nation thoroughly.

The income that is generated from it is spent over the NLC, paying the employees buying new equipment, buliding the infrastructure the offices and stuff as the govt don't pay for it and it is not included in the defence budget.

Frontier Works Organization

It undertakes large projects of road communication, bridges dams, canals and earthworks. In past thirty years it has constructed 3797 kilometers of roads including Kora Krum Highway, Gilgit-Skardu Link, besides preparing 8 completely new and up-gradating 11 airfields. Further it has undertaken extensive works on irrigation structures to include Khairpur Dam, Sadiqa Feeder and Abbasia Feeder. Some of the other projects are Left Bank outfall Drain, Khanpur Dam, Islam Head Works, SCARP VI Drains and structures and Quresh Ditch. Shile in Power and Energy Sector, construction of Jam Shoro Thermal Power Station, Muzaffargarh Thermal Power Station and Mangla Hydel Power Unit 9 and 10.

A marvelous organization which have done alot of work.

Mainly the roads leading to difficult areas where not being build by NHA or any other contractor so FWO do the work instead, seeing their professionalism they also get other civilian contracts to they also 'earn'

The officers here are from the army but there are hundreds of employees, so where do they get paid from? You know from where.

Special Communication Organization

Established in 1976 it provides communication facilities to entire Northern Areas and Azad Kashmir. Since its inception, this organization has played a vital role in development of telephone and telegraph facilities in the inaccessible areas.

Northern Areas were void of communications. No PTCL and cell phone access, so the Army established theor own commication system, though the Signals Corps have their own capabilities there but they are mobile and for operations so in order to have something static and more economical and efficient SCO was established. It provides the Army with the communicatioons and also to the local population, when the civilains are provided with communications to it require more manpower, and when you hire manpower you pay them. The income thus generated is used to pay them.

Services in Azad Kashmir / Northern Areas

Similarly, without any financial assistance from the Government, Pakistan Army and Frontier Work Organization have jointly constructed, and are maintaining critical communication networks to include roads and tracks in Azad Kashmir and Northern Areas, like Laswa and Kiran Bypass, besides other difficult forward roads. The roads have since not been taken over either by Northern Area Power and Water Development, or Azad Kashmir Power and Water Development. Entire civil population in the area is dependent on these roads for their daily supplies. Along vulnerable sectors of the roads in Kel Sector, necessary protective walls and gabians have also been constructed to protect civilian and military traffic from hostile fire. Further in entire Azad Kashmir and Northern Areas, Army is providing tremendous medical services to the civilians, through schools run by the Army.

This is another marvel!

Now everybody knows that the Northern Areas espacially the areas sorrounding Siachen Glacier was void of road infrstaucture and ofcourse if the Army can't move it can't operate so it require tracks and roads to transport men and material. The govt didn't give anything nor making roads was included in the defence budget so Army has to make tracks, which in turn helped the local population. They (the civilains) also started operatin their own transport as the roads became functional which gave them employment and ease and access to rest of Pakistan to the locals.

One more thing, if the Army construct a post, HQ or something else for itself at a place where usually no other human being goes (because of the dangerous of snow slides, land slides floods-the Army have to operate there it can't say that as it rains alot we will not fight) so they also do something to make it safe, they construct bunds so that the flood dont over run the post , and use gabian to hold the floods from taking away the banks, this in turn also help the local villages around the military posts as it indirectly provides them safety from rain, floods, avalanches etc.

Other than this the Army has also constructed several schools and mosques and other establishments from its own pockets. (when i say own pockets it mean from the pockets of the Officers and soldiers-you know charity and stuff)

Federal Area Tribal Area Development Works

Army having opened the erstwhile inaccessible/ No Go Areas of Federal Administrative Tribal Area, has undertaken and is cont with multifaceted dev works in Federal Area Tribal Area. Details of the dev works undertaken by the army in Federal Area Tribal Area are as under:-

Comm Infrastructure

Army Engineers have construct over 728 kilometers of 24 ft wide trs, which will be converted into black top roods.
Health

27 x perm medical camps exist since last two years, which have treated 235,324 patients. Besides 8 x free eye camps functional in the area have treated 825 ops of eye surgery and have provided treatment to 11,484 patients.

This was part of the strategy.

Beat the bad guys and help the needy.

Provide them education, medical care and other things so that they don't feel neglected as it has been due to the civilian govts' poor administartive policies.

 

[ajpirzada]

You can say so.

But like in some of the projects mentioned below the main aim was support the Army itself and in turn if the civilian population also gets the benefit, what's wrong in it.

i will go one by one on eacn:


The main reason was to provide logistics to the Army, but it is utilized by the nation thoroughly.

The income that is generated from it is spent over the NLC, paying the employees buying new equipment, buliding the infrastructure the offices and stuff as the govt don't pay for it and it is not included in the defence budget.



A marvelous organization which have done alot of work.

Mainly the roads leading to difficult areas where not being build by NHA or any other contractor so FWO do the work instead, seeing their professionalism they also get other civilian contracts to they also 'earn'

The officers here are from the army but there are hundreds of employees, so where do they get paid from? You know from where.




Northern Areas were void of communications. No PTCL and cell phone access, so the Army established theor own commication system, though the Signals Corps have their own capabilities there but they are mobile and for operations so in order to have something static and more economical and efficient SCO was established. It provides the Army with the communicatioons and also to the local population, when the civilains are provided with communications to it require more manpower, and when you hire manpower you pay them. The income thus generated is used to pay them.


This is another marvel!

Now everybody knows that the Northern Areas espacially the areas sorrounding Siachen Glacier was void of road infrstaucture and ofcourse if the Army can't move it can't operate so it require tracks and roads to transport men and material. The govt didn't give anything nor making roads was included in the defence budget so Army has to make tracks, which in turn helped the local population. They (the civilains) also started operatin their own transport as the roads became functional which gave them employment and ease and access to rest of Pakistan to the locals.

One more thing, if the Army construct a post, HQ or something else for itself at a place where usually no other human being goes (because of the dangerous of snow slides, land slides floods-the Army have to operate there it can't say that as it rains alot we will not fight) so they also do something to make it safe, they construct bunds so that the flood dont over run the post , and use gabian to hold the floods from taking away the banks, this in turn also help the local villages around the military posts as it indirectly provides them safety from rain, floods, avalanches etc.

Other than this the Army has also constructed several schools and mosques and other establishments from its own pockets. (when i say own pockets it mean from the pockets of the Officers and soldiers-you know charity and stuff)



This was part of the strategy.

Beat the bad guys and help the needy.

Provide them education, medical care and other things so that they don't feel neglected as it has been due to the civilian govts' poor administartive policies.

much appreciated.... its much more clear now. im wonderin wat would the ppl of those areas be doin if army wouldnt have done all this.
its definately nation building and not mini economy

 

[Bane Blade]

Are these institutions taxed in the same manner do they use army vehicles or equipment rather than Hiring equipment from another Pakistani business and is Ayesha Siddiqa correct in thinking the Army bypasses a few things that makes it a destroyer of capitalism and equal oppurtunity?

I am neutral on this because I am not too sure but I would love to know more.

 

[Xeric]

Are these institutions taxed in the same manner do they use army vehicles or equipment rather than Hiring equipment from another Pakistani business and is Ayesha Siddiqa correct in thinking the Army bypasses a few things that makes it a destroyer of capitalism and equal oppurtunity?

I am neutral on this because I am not too sure but I would love to know more.

They act like any other business entity.

They are separate entities and have nothing to do with the Army as far as the resources are concerned.

They have their own organization, structure, manpower, rules etc.

Officers and men go to these organizations on deputation and are not paid extra, for them it is just another versatile job of the Army.

They are taxed and audited as in other commercial organization is.

If i being an Officer is taxed how can these be left aside.

BTW, i can bet Defence personnels pay the maximum tax in this country, though being part of the institution that runs on peoples' taxes.

 

[Bane Blade]

Well her book does explain the over dominance of the Pakistan Military in the economy sector from airlines to cereals not exactly a small empire where does the money go and why does it go their?

Why does the British or theor Japanese forces not have their own industrial setups.

 

[Xeric]

Well her book does explain the over dominance of the Pakistan Military in the economy sector from airlines to cereals not exactly a small empire where does the money go and why does it go their?

i know that Miss and her book.

Let me tell you where the money goes:

A heavy artillery rounds cost Rs 90,000/- EACH as of '90s. Now it would be more expensive.

i will not tell how much of these rounds are fired when the Army conducts practice firing but the figure for each unit is in double figures, so do the math.

An ordinary tank requires 5 liters of diesel to traverse a kilometer, do the math if it has to move hundreds of kilometers and yes each tank requires to turned on DAILY for a specific time to keep that damn beast in working condition, don't forget to add that.

Try to find out the number of tanks that we have, and for the math over to you

A RBS-70 costs more than 20 lacs each, and unless they are fired by the firer actually it is hard to master, and guess what they have a shelf life so they have to be fired, it gives us training, so the math part is for you to do.

A Bakter Shikan again is in lacs.

Don't forget the tank ammo.

Now a word about Siachen Glacier:

The cost of maintaining men and material there are high because the logistics tail is long, a large number of artillery/infantry posts can be maintained only by light helicopters that air-drop supplies with attendant losses, as recoveries are often less than fifty percent. The cost of a loaf of bread that would be less than a rupee in the Kashmir Valley would worth five thousand rupees (eighty five US dollars) by the time it reaches a soldier at Siachen.

Does she needs more or that should be enough, bro

 

[Xeric]

Why does the British or theor Japanese forces not have their own industrial setups.

These are not industrial setups.

As i have mentioned earlier it has nothing to do the Army, they are separtede entities and works separately.

Entities like the Askari Bank and DHA may be called industrial setups, but
i have never seen the manager of Askari Bank to be an Army Officer, nor i know any officer who is given special dealing and profit if he open the account there.

The DHA is just like Behria or Rufi Builders or eden Developers.

They get land, develop it and sell it. Their repo is excellent so people go to them blindly, as they know that their money will not be eaten. Their employees are civilians and they have to be paid.

BTW when i was in States i was to staying in their Army base, they give their soldiers furnished rooms which microwaves, refrigerators, tv, cable, telephone, internet etc etc, i wonder why the Army gives us the same.

i think i should ask this from Miss Ayesha.

They have the BX (Base Exchange) within their cantonments and everything there is tax free i.e. a $10 item would be bought for $8 or 9 if a soldier purchases it, i don't know why we don't do the same for our soldiers????

 

[Patriot]

I think one of the reason Army projects are sucessfull is because well all know in Pakistan corruption is too much and nothing works well unless you use danda or bribe and Army has danda so all work is done with discipline and on time.

 

[Bane Blade]

They have the BX (Base Exchange) within their cantonments and everything there is tax free i.e. a $10 item would be bought for $8 or 9 if a soldier purchases it, i don't know why we don't do the same for our soldiers????

Actually they do do that I have lived in a cantonement and things were cheaper their but I have also read about contract being given to Fauji cement without proper tenders being conducted how can they be a separate entity then.

 

[Xeric]

I think one of the reason Army projects are sucessfull is because well all know in Pakistan corruption is too much and nothing works well unless you use danda or bribe and Army has danda so all work is done with discipline and on time.

You are right.

Army has danda, discipline, check and balances and above all upright individuals, so everything it does is well done!